Robinho scores but Chelsea win the battle of the billionaires; Super-sub Babel seals Liverpool’s comeback over United; Adebayor hits a hat-trick for Arsenal at Ewood; Hull heap more trouble on Toon

Manchester City 1 – Chelsea 3 (Premier League, September 13, 2008) (MOTD highlights here.) Robinho took centre stage at Eastlands by breaking the deadlock after just 12 minutes, curling a free-kick past Petr Cech. But City’s lead lasted just three minute, Ricardo Carvalho rocketed home a strike following a Chelsea corner. Towards the end of the first half Chelsea had several chances to move ahead, but Malouda’s header struck the bar and Anelka’s shot was easily saved (both chances here) while Ashely Cole’s shot was just a little too high. (First half highlights here.) After the break the Blues raced into the lead with a free-flowing goal expertly finished by Frank Lampard. Scolari’s charges looked to have moved out of sight in the 69th minute, Anelka coolly slotting home the third, only for John Terry to leave Chelsea with only 10-men after he was sent off for a bear-hug on Jo when clean through.

Liverpool 2 – Manchester United 1 (Premier League, September 13, 2008) (MOTD highlights here.) It only took Dimitar Berbatov three minutes to announce himself to Manchester United, the Bulgarian ran the right hand channel, crossed to the edge of the box and Carlos Tevez fired the champions into an early lead. Dirk Kuyt had early chances to level, particularly after Van der Sar made a hash of a cross. And Van der Sar’s insecurity continued in the first half to gift Liverpool an equaliser, from Alonso’s shot the goalie’s clearance ricocheted off Wes Brown and into the net. Giggs went close with a fine effort on 70 minutes. With fifteen minutes to go, Mascherano attacked down the right, the ball fell to Kuyt who crossed for Ryan Babel to put Liverpool into the lead. To add insult to injury Nemanja Vidic was sent-off late on.

Blackburn Rovers 0 – Arsenal 4 (Premier League, September 13, 2008) (MOTD highlights here.) England hero Theo Walcott played in Robin van Persie to flick Arsenal ahead early doors at Ewood Park. Seconds later, Santa Cruz had a great chance to level after the ball broke in the box. In an open game, van Persie should have grabbed his second just before the half hour but he hit his effort into the side netting. Blackburn continued to threaten, but no one could get on the end of a dangerous cross from Emerton. On the stroke of half-time, Emmanuel Adebayor scored his first goal of the season, heading in a Denilson cross. (First-half highlights and analysis here.) After the break Eboue went close with a stinging shot. Emannuel Adebayor side-footed home a penalty for the third after Eboue had (dived?) been felled in the box. The Togolese striker completed his hat-trick in injury-time, rounding Robinson from a Ramsey through ball.

Newcastle 1 – Hull 2 (Premier League, September 13, 2008) A Marlon King double piled on the misery at St. James’ Park before new-boy Xisco bagged a debut goal for the Toon before Danny Guthrie was sent off late on.

Portsmouth 2 – Middlesbrough 1 (Premier League, September 13, 2008) Mido gave Middlesbrough the lead at Fratton Park, curling the ball past David James at his near post. A second-half brace from Jermain Defoe gave Pompey the victory.

West Brom 3 – West Ham 2 (Premier League, September 13, 2008) Zola had barely taken his seat in the West Ham dugout by the time a James Morrison header had the home side in front after just two minutes. After a Roman Bednar miss, the Hammers kicked into gear with goals from Mark Noble and skipper Lucas Neill. But it was squared up again within 60 seconds. Robert Green spilled a shot and compounded the error by hauling down Leon Barnett, allowing Bednar to drill the penalty straight down the middle.The Baggies stole the win late on, Chris Brunt scored the winner to hand Zola a debut defeat.

Fulham 2 – Bolton 1 (Premier League, September 13, 2008) Zoltan Gera opened his account for the Cottagers with an emphatic 15th-minute finish and Bolton cracked for a second time when Bobby Zamora pounced shortly before half-time. Kevin Davies took advantage of a moment of hesitancy in the Fulham defence to pull a goal back with nine minutes to go.

Wigan 1 – Sunderland 1 (Premier League, September 13, 2008) Titus Bramble’s early own goal, heading beyond Chris Kirkland put Sunderland in front, before some hesitant defending by the Black Cats allowed Amr Zaki to bag his fourth goal of the season to level 12 minutes from time. Lee Cattermole was sent off late on for the Latics.

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Motherwell 2 – Celtic 4 (SPL, September 13, 2008) Celtic clinched the win with four goals in the first-half from Maloney, two from Samaras and one from McDonald. Sutton and Clarkson pulled goals back for the home side in the second-half.

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Barcelona 1 – Racing Santander 1 (La Liga, September 13, 2008) Lionel Messi converted a 70th-minute penalty, but Barca failed to take advantage with Jonathan Pereira equalising six minutes later to deny the hosts victory, leaving Pep Guardiola with just one point from a possible six.

Valladolid 2 – Atletico Madrid 1 (La Liga, September 13, 2008) The home side moved ahead when Angel Vivar Dorado bundled home a free-kick. Valladolid then lost fullback Pedro Lopez to a second yellow card for a dive in the area in the 21st but Atletico failed to react. Vivar Dorado went down in the box at another free-kick in the 28th minute and Javier Baraja put away the penalty to make it 2-0. Kun Aguero pulled a goal back after the break.

Sevilla 4 – Sporting Gijon 3 (La Liga, September 13, 2008) It was an incredible first half at the Sanchez Pizjuan as the teams shared six goals, with Mate Bilic striking first for Sporting after 20 minutes. Bilic grabbed a second just two minutes later before Javier Chevanton pulled one back for Sevilla on 22 minutes. Fredi Kanoute drew Sevilla level at 2-2 with a goal in the 36th minute and Enzo Maresca then fired the home team in front less 60 seconds later. Bilic completed his hat-trick on the stroke of half-time to bring it back to 3-3 but Sevilla were in less generous mood after the break. They clinched all three points with Kanoute netting the crucial goal on the hour mark.

Hertha Berlin 2 – Wolfsburg 2 (Bundesliga, September 13, 2008) Gojko Kacar levelled for Wolfsburg after Ricardo Costa had struck in the first minute. Marko Pantelic missed a 64th minute penalty for the home team, but Santos Cicero netted five minutes later. Reither then popped up at the death to give Wolfsburg their third draw from four games.

Inter Milan 2 – Catania 1 (Serie A, September 13, 2008) Gianvito Plasmati headed Catania into the lead three minutes before half-time, only for Ricardo Quaresma to mark his Inter debut with a deflected goal a minute later. Sulley Muntari was then sent off after flinging an arm into the face of Giacomo Tedesco. The winner came when a corner came off the head of Catania’s Cristian Terlizzi and hit the the inside of the far post into goalkeeper Albano Bizzarri’s hands, and despite Catania’s protests, the referee and linesman both ruled the ball had crossed the line and awarded the goal.

Palermo 3 – Roma 1 (Serie A, September 13, 2008) Julio Baptista gave Roma an 8th minute lead, but Miccoli ensured Palermo headed into the break all square equalising after 19 minutes. After the break Miccoli netted his brace, and Cavani sealed the win with the third.

Lyon 3 – Nice 2 (Ligue 1, September 13, 2008) Bamogo’s third minute goal was the first Lyon had conceded in the league this season and Remy then put Nice 2-0 ahead on 20 minutes. A stunning free-kick from Juninho on 40 minutes was followed by an even more spectacular effort from the Brazilian schemer on 73 minutes (both Juninho free-kicks here). Deep into stoppage time, Lyon were awarded a penalty when Hognon handballed, Nice’s Rool was sent off and Benzema kept his cool to give the title holders the points.

Rennes 1 – Le Havre 1 (Ligue 1, September 13, 2008) Jimmy Briand put Rennes in front at home to Le Havre on 27 minutes, but the visitors equalised five minutes later through Jean-Michel Lesage.

Auxerre 1 – Nancy 1 (Ligue 1, September 13, 2008) Mansef Zerka’s header earned Nancy a 1-1 draw at Auxerre, who had taken a 55th minute lead through Kevin Lejeune’s goal on the break.

Valenciennes 1 – Grenoble 1 (Ligue 1, September 13, 2008) Laurent Courtois grabbed a last-minute equaliser as promoted Grenoble grabbed a 1-1 draw at Valenciennes. The hosts had gone in front on 84 minutes when Gregory Pujol converted from the penalty spot after Laurent Batlles was sent off for handball.

Monaco 2 – Lorient 0 (Ligue 1, September 13, 2008) Chu-Young Park and Frederic Nimani netted for Monaco as the Principality side claimed a 2-0 home win over Lorient.

FC Moscow 2 – Spartak Moscow 1 (Premier Liga, September 13, 2008) A poor punch from FC Moscow’s keeper failed to get rid of an incoming free-kick and Vladimir Ryzhkov fired the loose ball home. But after the break a needless challenge gave the hosts a penalty which Brakamonte dispatched, and the hosts took all three points when Ivanov stroked home the winner from the edge of the box.

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Hacettepe 2 – Fenerbahce 1 (Super Lig, September 13, 2008) Alex gave the Istanbul giants the lead after 20 minutes, but Ibrahim Sahin equalised on the stroke of half-time. Fener then fell to pieces in the second half as Can Arat scored an own goal on the hour mark before goalkeeper Volken Demirel was sent off in the final minute of the match.

Galatasaray 1 – Antalyaspor 1 (Super Lig, September 13, 2008) Gala took an early lead through Shabani Nonda with 11 minutes played, but were pegged back just after the half-hour mark by Joseph Ngwenya.

New York Red Bulls 2 – Real Salt Lake 1 (MLS, September 13, 2008) The Utah club went ahead in the 38th minute when Armenian striker Yura Movsisyan ran on goal and directed a deft shot past the goalkeeper. But Juan Pablo Angel and Dave van den Bergh both scored in the second half for New York, who move six points inside the playoff cutoff.

Toronto FC 1 – Columbus Crew 1 (MLS, September 13, 2008) Welsh midfielder Carl Robinson scored a rare goal to put Toronto ahead in the sixth minute. Crew forward Pat Noonan equalised in the 40th minute as he cut in from the right past some shoddy defending to score.

KC Wizards 2 – LA Galaxy 0 (MLS, September 13, 2008) The league’s glamor club remains rooted to the bottom of the Western Conference despite being the MLS’ highest scorers. A change of coach has not helped L.A.’s performance, with former U.S. national team coach Bruce Arena winless from four games. The return of a jet-lagged David Beckham from World Cup duty with England also had little benefit. Two goals in less than two minutes from U.S. internationals Josh Wolff and Davy Arnaud midway through the second half secured the points for Kansas City, which revived its playoff hopes by moving within four points of the cutoff.